Container for storing food and process and apparatus for making that container

Abstract

Disclosed is a container for storing product, a process and apparatus for making that container, a process and apparatus for drawing and blow forming plastic into a paperboard outer container and a process and apparatus for heat sealing a container. The container comprises a paperboard outer container and a plastic inner container which has been drawn and blow formed into the outer container. At the mouth of the container are horizontal plastic flanges which extend about the periphery of the container at least about 1/8 inch outwardly from the plastic inner container. Vertical flanges extend downwardly at least about 1/8 inch from the horizontal flanges. After product is placed in the container, the container is sealed by a heat sealable cover. A plastic overcap may be provided which engagedly fits around the container at its top.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for drawing and blow forming plastic into a paperboard outer container comprising: (a) a female mold, said female mold comprising at least three vertical walls and a bottom wall;   (b) a male mandrel provided with holes in communication with a source of gas whereby gas may be directed from the interior of said mandrel into said female mold, said male mandrel and female mold being arranged and constructed so that a sheet of plastic may be drawn by said male mandrel into said female mold and thereafter the sheet of drawn plastic may be blow formed in said female mold, said male mandrel and female mold being further provided with means for forming at least one horizontal flange extending from the drawn and blow formed plastic at least about 1/8 inch and at least one vertical flange extending at least about 1/8 inch downwardly from said at least one horizontal flange, further wherein said male mandrel is conical and is provided with at least three rows of substantially aligned holes, each row of substantially aligned holes arranged and constructed so that gas may be directed substantially into an edge of said female mold defined by the intersection of two vertical walls of said female mold.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said male mandrel and female mold include means for coacting to cut said plastic sheet after said at least one vertical flange is formed. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for drawing and blow forming plastic into a paperboard outer container comprising: (a) a female mold, said female mold comprising at least one vertical wall and a bottom wall;   (b) a male mandrel provided with holes in communication with a source of gas whereby gas may be directed from the interior of said mandrel into said female mold, said male mandrel and female mold being arranged and constructed so that a sheet of plastic may be drawn by said male mandrel into said female mold and thereafter the sheet of drawn plastic may be blow formed in said female mold, said male mandrel and female mold being further provided with means for forming at least one horizontal flange extending from the drawn and blow formed plastic at least about 1/8 inch and at least one vertical flange extending at least about 1/8 inch downwardly from said at least one horizontal flange, further wherein said male mandrel comprises a row of substantially horizontally aligned holes arranged about the circumference of said male mandrel, said row of substantially horizontally aligned holes arranged and constructed so that gas may be directed substantially into an edge of said female mold defined by the intersection of the bottom and at least one vertical wall of the female mold.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said female mold comprises at least three vertical walls, said male mandrel is conical and is provided with at least three rows of substantially aligned holes, each row of substantially aligned holes arranged and constructed so that gas may be directed substantially into an edge of said female mold defined by the intersection of two vertical walls of said female mold.